The Astrology Blog 11 May 2020
All times in BST
“Problems in relationship occur because each person is concentrating on what is missing in the other person.”
“Relationships based on obligation lack dignity.”
Wayne Dyer
https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Wayne_Dyer
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been paving the way for the big turning points now taking place. Saturn turned retrograde early this morning, Venus turns on Wednesday and Jupiter turns on Thursday –
- Monday 11 May Saturn 2 degrees Aquarius 05.10
- Wednesday 13 May Venus 22 degrees Gemini 07.46
- Thursday 14 May Jupiter 27 degrees Capricorn 15.33
The slower moving the planet, the longer the retrograde cycle. And in turn, as a rough guide, the longer the retrograde cycle, generally the less weighty it is in terms of symbolic meaning for our day to day lives, but often more significant in world events.
To put this in further perspective fast moving personal planet Mercury turns retrograde 3 times a year for 3 weeks at a time and ties us all in knots. He backtracks on average around 15 degrees whilst making the big loop backwards. His havoc is usually unmistakable and even non astrological friends will ask me, er, is Mercury retrograde at the moment by any chance?
Venus turns retrograde only once every 18-20 months but stays retrograde for longer, about six weeks, ie twice the length of Mercury’s retrograde phase. She also backtracks around 15 degrees and on the current journey is turning retrograde at 22 Gemini and will turn direct at 5 degrees of Gemini on 25 June.
Slow moving Saturn turns retrograde once a year, for about four months at a time and backtracks 6 to 7 degrees. This time Saturn has turned at the beginning of Aquarius and will therefore slide back into the previous sign of Capricorn (1 July) and will turn direct at 25 degrees of this sign 29 September,
Jupiter turns retrograde every 13 months, for four months at a time and backtracks 10 degrees, and will turn direct a couple of weeks before Saturn at 17 degrees of Capricorn on 13 September.
What do Retrograde Planets Symbolise?
Many of you will be familiar with the “checklist” I give for every time Mercury turns retrograde. The textbook definition is “problems with transport and communication” but this is an umbrella for a wide range of issues. At the top of my checklist is “re” words – rethink, revisit, regroup, revise and so on. During retrograde phases we can often find that we return to old issues and in this respect second chances are a theme to look out for. Interestingly Venus is turning retrograde in Mercury’s sign so am expecting some similarities, many of which have been evident for me this last week as Venus has been “stationing” – slowing down before making the turn.
Whichever House Venus rules in your own horoscope will be important. For me one of the Houses Venus rules is my 6th, where we locate pets. The rescue of Lola, an eight year old terrier chained up all her life in Cephalonia, has taken over my life this last two weeks. If you read the blog last week you may remember that I said I had to wait until 18 May for passenger ferries to start up again before I could get her over here to Lefkada.
That changed. Remember I also said about the Sun – Mercury conjunction last Monday evening –
The aspect is extremely powerful as this is called a “cazimi” – when any other planet is conjunct the Sun to within 17 minutes of arc (just over a quarter of a degree). It means that the other planet is “in the heart of the Sun”, drawing on that massive energy rather than being burned up by it. News, information or anything else relating to the mind planet Mercury – such as decisions, ideas, insights and so on – is likely to be pivotal. Look out for themes of illumination, especially this evening.
On that evening the pivotal piece of info fell into place as I found that a ferry doing cargo runs would be willing to bring Lola over. It was a mad week getting this organized but it’s done, she arrived yesterday. In the process the Gemini theme – sign of the Twins, duality – was obvious:
- It took 2 weeks to rescue her, she went to another foster home first but it didn’t work out, and she had to be rescued for the second time.
- The original paperwork from the vet went missing in the process, including her vaccination book, and I had to have everything duplicated.
- Three days before she was due to travel I found out that she also had to be chipped before being allowed on the ferry – back to the vet again!
- And then the transport problems happened in the shape of the moveable bridge joining Lefkas to the mainland being broken. It was supposed to be fixed by the weekend but of course it wasn’t. This meant that the ferry had to go all around the island and up the west coast to come into Lefkas town from the other direction, and I wasn’t told about this until the last minute so I had to wait an extra two hours.
- So I now have two dogs again but the introduction to my other dog didn’t go well, even though it was done away from the territory of the house and garden. Neither of them were happy and there were two fights.
I realize I’m on a big learning curve myself, especially around the fact that Lola is not Coco, my dog I lost in February. Am having to learn a whole new personality and to be a lot more aware of being in the role of pack leader. All very time consuming at the moment but also very interesting and fulfilling.
Venus Lessons
This made me think about how Venus turning retrograde in Mercury’s sign is flagging up the danger of assumptions. Being a strong Jupiterian/Sag type I went into this rescue with total optimism, all fired up, just rescue her, ask questions later, never mind the cost and so on. My friend Rachael on Cephalonia who did all the running around is also a Jupiter type, being Pisces, the other sign ruled by this sign and which is the archetype of The Rescuer, and between us we made things happen. I totally believe it was the right approach or else Lola could still be sitting there on a chain.
However this doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the story. I’m now entering into a new chapter as Venus goes backwards and forwards opposite my four planets in Sag and I think the next six weeks will be a lot about nurturing Lola back to good physical and mental health.
So, pay close attention to what is unfolding for you this week. In Venusian terms the key issues are love, sex, desire, pleasures and money. Retrogrades don’t automatically signal that everything will unravel, but there may be some threads that will. In relationships check your assumptions, whether you’ve been with someone a long time or getting to know someone new. Be open to different ways of doing things and, as Wayne Dyer says, try not to focus on what is missing in the other person. In other words, don’t fixate on what they don’t do or say as this sets up a downward spiral of doubt, negativity or dissatisfaction.
Lola’s story also made me think about how Venus can struggle in Mercury’s sign because love and desire are so often not linked to our thought processes! Nobody could have “reasoned” with me about rescuing Lola, I was on a mission and I didn’t care about the logistics or the cost. Similarly, if you’ve ever tried to “talk sense” into someone in love you’ll know it’s next door to useless. So there’s no need to rationalize or justify things at the moment as too much thought can be a passion killer.
Let your feelings act as fuel in the pursuit of the love or the things you really want in your life. Anita Moorjani talks a lot about how feelings are underestimated, and she should know as this was part of the information she brought back with her after her near death experience. The other quote this week from Wayne Dyer, a huge supporter of Anita Moorjani and who was instrumental in her fame, is also a challenge to the struggle between thought and feelings. If you’re in any relationship, not necessarily a romantic one, out of obligation then you’ll recognize that feeling of it lacking dignity. Look carefully at where you use the word “should”.
What else does Venus Rule?
- Venus rules money, luxuries and pleasure seeking – if you’ve been able to carry on working during this time you may find that you’re actually spending a lot less. While Venus is retrograde it’s a chance to save. If you’re out of work you’ll be feeling the pinch, but get creative. You may have money making or money saving ideas that would never have occurred to you in ordinary times.
- Venus rules fashion, adornment and beauty – hands up who isn’t missing their hairdresser, salon or shopping! Home treatments are a perfectly good option, but don’t skip reading the instructions carefully. Seriously think twice (Gemini) about having any kind of surgical procedure for cosmetic reasons. Also be cautious about buying clothes or anything else on line unless it’s from a reputable company with a clear returns policy.
- Venus rules produce, especially sweet things! Your mind and body will be receiving all kinds of mixed messages so clock when you’re eating because of sugar cravings or boredom. Stick to the routine of mealtimes and try to stock your cupboards with the things you love, but which also love you too.
Jupiter and Saturn Retrograde
Last week I was commenting on how the pandemic is showing astrologically at a universal level but also in the horoscopes of individuals in position of power. The headlines yesterday (Sunday 10 May) put South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in the spotlight as a cluster of new cases saw lockdown measures being re-imposed in the capital Seoul. He’s stated what the whole world knows but many are trying to ignore, that “It’s not over until it’s over”.
I can’t find a horoscope for Moon Jae-in but he was born 24 January 1953 –
- Saturn, planet of restrictions, boundaries and authority, has just turned retrograde conjunct his Sun at about 4 degrees Aquarius
- He’s also got Mercury at 27 Capricorn, the exact degree where Jupiter turns retrograde
- He has Uranus at 16 Cancer, opposite the degree at which Jupiter will turn direct again in September
South Korea and Germany were both praised for the way they handled the demands of lockdown, with South Korea having only 5 deaths per 1 million of population, and Germany having 90. (UK is 470, and both Italy and Spain are over 500). They are amongst the first to start easing lockdown measures but both have immediately had some increase in virus cases.
Angela Merkel has her Uranus/Sun at 23/24 degrees of Cancer so Jupiter is stationing opposite this conjunction. And as noted last week on the list of world leaders who have planets or Angles at the sensitive degree of 22 Gemini (where Venus is turning retrograde) she also has her Descendant 16 Gemini and Mars in the opposite sign at 26 Sag.
My own feeling is that Jupiter and Saturn’s turning points this week are warning bells. In this case I think the switch to retrograde is all about the risk of going backwards and that too much lifting of the rules (Saturn) and too much freedom/travel (Jupiter) will inevitably lead back to square one. In your own life watch out for the same themes. Anything that has been a long process may yet not be secure and could still change shape and direction.
What else is Happening this Week?
Two planets are changing sign this week, starting with Mercury this evening and Mars early Wednesday morning –
Monday 11 May
- Mercury ingress Gemini 22.59
- Mercury 2 Gemini trine Saturn 2 Aquarius 21.15
Wednesday 13 May
- Mars ingress Pisces 05.18
- Venus turns retrograde 22 Gemini 07.46
Mercury is gaining strength by entering his own sign but is nevertheless flagging up the possibility of tough news or reality check statistics as his first aspect is to newly retrograde Saturn in Aquarius, sign of the collective and systems. So the new cycle may well be characterized by yet more rules or possibly delays. Saturn is Lord of Time itself.
It’s a great time for mind matters though. Check your attitude. Saturn often brings us up against the things we can’t change or which simply need time and patience, and this combo with Mercury is great for constructive ideas and for turning negatives into positives wherever you can. Also as I was saying the other week the sign of Gemini is great for looking at options and alternatives, and good mental health is linked to perception of choice, ie not feeling backed into a corner or thinking that you have to do things only in a way that suits others but which is not that great for you, no matter what the situation.
Interestingly Mars changes sign at almost exactly the same time as Venus switches direction, as these are both the love planets then midweek is an important time for relationship concerns of all kinds. A change of sign for one and a change of direction for the other definitely adds up to a big shift, and I’ll be talking more about this combo in the coming weeks.
At the end of the week the Sun lights up the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction, so again a planet newly retrograde is being picked out –
Thursday 14 May
- Jupiter turns retrograde 27 Capricorn 15.33
Friday 15 May
- Sun 25 Taurus trine Pluto 25 Capricorn 07.47
- Sun 27 Taurus trine Jupiter 27 Capricorn 17.41
At a global level these Solar aspects will almost certainly link to travel/freedom (Jupiter) matters or the lack (Pluto) of them. By the end of the week we’ll be looking at more info about how easing up on lockdown measures is or isn’t working, but also at the systems different countries are putting in place to control the flow of visitors in and out. Countries who rely on tourism such as Greece are understandably desperate to get some business flow started, even if it’s only a trickle rather than a flood, but everyone knows that it’s high risk and nothing comes with any guarantees at the moment.
At a personal level you’ll be looking at how much things have changed with regard to your own plans for travel/holidays and many will be delaying or cancelling altogether. Am still cautiously optimistic for Summer School in September as this is when Jupiter turns direct. But am probably going to cancel my London trip in August unless by some miracle it’s deemed to be totally safe to travel again by then.
The Jupiter – Pluto double act is also very strongly linked to the loss of all the things we would normally take for granted, such as freedom of movement, and also to the Jupiter characteristics of optimism, faith and hope. If you’re struggling try not to give in to despair. Life will change again, even if it’s not any time soon, and in the meantime acceptance of your new normal, whatever that might be, will help you to stay upbeat. Tap into Jupiter in other ways, such as surrounding yourself with positive people or using any free time to explore your interests. Jupiter is traditionally the planet of “the Higher Mind” and favours learning or expanding your mental as well as physical horizons in any way you can.
Until next week stay safe – and positive,
With love from Greece
Joanna